The US suffered a major diplomatic and military rebuff on Friday when Iraq finally rejected its pleas to maintain bases in the country beyond this year.

Barack Obama announced at a White House press conference that all American troops will leave Iraq by the end of December, a decision forced by the final collapse of lengthy talks between the US and the Iraqi government on the issue.

The Iraqi decision is a boost to Iran, which has close ties with many members of the Iraqi government and which had been battling against the establishment of permanent American bases.

I put "allow" in quotes because the Iraqi government can't really do anything about the tens of thousands of American soldiers on the ground unless we agree to leave. Which we should not.

Obviously this move weakens America in the region and globally, strengths Iran and our other enemies, and makes us look like fools.

Comments

The US suffered a major diplomatic and military rebuff on Friday when Iraq finally rejected its pleas to maintain bases in the country beyond this year.\n\nBarack Obama announced at a White House press conference that all American troops will leave Iraq by the end of December, a decision forced by the final collapse of lengthy talks between the US and the Iraqi government on the issue.\n\nThe Iraqi decision is a boost to Iran, which has close ties with many members of the Iraqi government and which had been battling against the establishment of permanent American bases.

\n\nI put \"allow\" in quotes because the Iraqi government can't really do anything about the tens of thousands of American soldiers on the ground unless we agree to leave. Which we should not.\n\nObviously this move weakens America in the region and globally, strengths Iran and our other enemies, and makes us look like fools.\n\n2012 can't come soon enough.\n\n(HT: Gateway Pundit.)